The San Francisco 49ers defense is a different beast with pass rusher Nick Bosa anchoring the edge of the defensive line. Unfortunately, Bosa left Sunday's playoff win against the Dallas Cowboys with a head injury. He is currently in the concussion protocol as the team prepares for this weekend's playoff opponent—the Green Bay Packers.
The 49ers are at a bit of a disadvantage thanks to the NFL scheduling the Divisional Round playoff match on a Saturday. That means Bosa has one less day to clear the concussion protocol. You can never predict the recovery timeline for head injuries. Concussions impact everyone differently.
Defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans' job on Saturday night would be a whole lot easier with Bosa in the lineup. Naturally, he is hopeful his 24-year-old pass rusher will be available.
"Nick, he's come along well, going through the protocol there," Ryans said before Wednesday's practice. "Hopefully, he'll be fine by the end of the week. We definitely need him out there."
Bosa finished the regular season with 15.5 sacks to go along with his 52 tackles, 21 tackles for a loss, 32 quarterback hits, and four forced fumbles. He added half a sack during his 23 snaps on Sunday against the Cowboys.